OFF THE TICKER

Published
4:00 am PST, Tuesday, November 19, 1996

AH: Earnings drop at H-P

Hewlett-Packard Co. earnings fell in the fourth quarter, dragged down by a drop in orders in the third period. The Palo Alto computer giant said income dropped 4.4 percent to $648 million (62 cents a share) from $678 million (64 cents) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1995. Revenue rose 12 percent to $10.15 billion from $9.05 billion. H-P cited sluggish demand for its portable computers and workstations. Meanwhile, costs and expenses rose 14 percent as the company added staff and boosted spending for research and development.

3Com to build

plant in Singapore

3Com Corp. said Tuesday it will spend at least $70 million to build a manufacturing plant in Singapore, its first production site in the Pacific Rim. The world's second-biggest maker of computer-networking equipment said the plant, which will make all of 3Com's products, will employ as many as 400 people by 2000. It's scheduled to be completed by the first half of 1998. Santa Clara-based 3Com has 18 sales and support offices in the Pacific Rim, employing 350 people. The company said it plans more investments in the region.&lt;